JERRY MAGUIRE (2002)

The journey is everything.


GENRE
Comedy/Drama/Romance


STORYLINE
When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent with the only athlete who stays with him.


DIRECTOR
Cameron Crowe


CAST
Tom Cruise
Cuba Gooding Jr
Renee Zellweger


MY REVIEW
Usually sports movies are about guys belonging to the economically backward sections, working hard and making big in life.  Jerry Maguire is not any typical sports movie.  Its not about a player and his/her rise in the game.  Its about a sports agent. Some believe Sports agents and money ruin the game but now sports agents are integral part of any game and are here to stay.  This movie is about one such agent, his fall from the peak of his career and his struggle to achieve success again.


Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a highly successful sports agents working for the Sports Management International (SMI).  One day he has a nervous breakdown and he writes about the dishonesty in the sports business, about whats wrong in his career and life.  The result is that he is fired from his job.  He has no clients left except the volatile Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr) who wants Jerry to 'Show him the money.'   Most of his colleagues disown him with only Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger), the single mother supporting him and joining his cause.(She also plays his love interest in this film)


Well this movie is a treat to watch.   The writing is great. Writing a simple sports movie is easy because atleast you can see the game, the reaction of players and all but a movie about agents does require a lot of research which I feel has been done before making this movie.  This movie is not all drama.  It is extremely funny aswell.  The 'Show me the money' scene is one of the most iconic scenes in Hollywood.  The child who plays Dorothy's son also has many rib-tickling scenes including the one on the phone with Rod.   The dialogues are memorable.  This movie is credited for the lines like 'You complete me', 'You had me at hello' and of-course 'Show me the money.'


Now we come to the performances.   Both Tom cruise And Cuba Gooding Jr were nominated for their respective roles in this film with Cuba eventually winning the Oscar For Best Supporting Actor.   Their performances are too good in the film.   For a not so experienced actor and playing the energetic and volatile football player, Rod Tidwell must have been tough for Cuba but he looks at so much ease in the film.Renee is sweet and the chemistry between her and Tom looks great in the film.

This film is a must watch for the brilliant acting and the comedy throughout the film.

MY RATING 8.5/10

TRAILER